1. A Practical Philosophy
Stoicism
A Practical Philosophy

2. Johnny Cash

3. From Hellenism to Rome Classical Athens: Rational Humanism
Power and stability of democratic city-state
Critical assessment of individual & community
Individual defined by capacity to reason
Aim at good society, good life via reason
Hellenistic Society: Cosmopolitanism
Political instability, monarchy, cultural expansion
Value of individual & community put into question
Issues related to alienation, fatalism, and virtue
Classical Athens: founded on stability and achievements of city-state
Hellenistic Society: founded on the instability of city-state, exposure to E-W cultures and formation of large scale empires

4. Hellenistic Age (c. 323-30 BCE)
Decline of Athens (c. 404)
Rise of Macedon:
Philip (d. 336) & Alexander
Death of Alexander (323)
[Aristotle dies 322]
Hellenism
Alexandria cultural center
Fusion of peoples
Stoicism & Epicureanism
Mystery Religions
Roman Ascension
Roman Republic ( )
Collapse of Republic (133-30)
Roman Empire (30 BCE- 180 CE)

5. Stoicism Origins Zeno of Citium (333-264 BCE) Chrysippus (280-270 BCE)
Epictetus* (~ BCE)
Seneca (3-65 CE)
Marcus Aurelius* ( CE)
A life resigned to ‘fate,’ acknowledging limits of self-control and obligations of duty. Aiming for a tranquility of mind and evenness of emotional life.
Extremely influential in Roman era, as well as in early Church doctrine.
Stoicism was given it’s name because he taught at the Stoa (Greek for porch).

6. Zeno of Citium Zeno (334-262 BC) was born in Citium, Cyprus, in Greece
Student of Crates of Thebes, the most famous Cynic living at the time
Was a merchant until the age of 42
These teaching would be beginnings of Stoicism
Provided a unified account of the world, consisting of formal logic, materialist physics and naturalistic ethics

7. Basic Tenets
Teaches development of fortitude and self-control as means of overcoming destructive emotions
Tried to produce a criterion for separating truth from falsehood
Produced an elaborate account of nature as governed by reason
Tried to reconcile the necessity of natural events with human autonomy
Produced an influential ethical theory, enjoining people to “live according to nature”

8. What is Stoicism?
TED Ed:

9. Epictetus (c )
Born a slave at Hierapolis, Phrygia (present day Turkey).
Lived in Rome until his banishment, when he went to Nicopolis in northwestern Greece for the rest of his life.  
His teachings were written down and published by his pupil Arrian. 
Epictetus acquired a passion for philosophy and, with the permission of his wealthy owner, he studied Stoic philosophy which allowed him to rise in respectability as he grew more educated.
When still a slave, Epictetus was tortured by his master who twisted his leg. Enduring the pain with complete composure, Epictetus warned that his leg would break, and when it did break, he said, 'There, did I not tell you that it would break?' And from that time Epictetus was lame. 

10. Epictetus, A Manual for Living
Happiness and personal fulfillment are the natural consequences of doing the right thing
Wealth, power and professional achievement are irrelevant to happiness
What matters most is what sort of person you are becoming, what sort of life you are living
Three prescriptions for a good life:
1. Master your desires
2. Perform your duties
3. Learn to think clearly about yourself and about humanity

11. Marcus Aurelius (121-180 CE) Roman military and political leader
Reigned CE
last of the“Five Good Emperors” (Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius)
who governed the Roman Empire from 96 to 180, and is also considered one of the most important stoic philosophers.
Meditations are stoic maxims to himself, a diary of a ruler
written on campaign between , is still revered as a literary monument to a government of service and duty and has been praised for its "exquisite accent and its infinite tenderness."

12. Key Ideas in Meditations
One must develop the ability to deny emotion, a skill that will “free a man from the pains and pleasures of the material world”
Emotions only blind man from true judgment, the less emotions one has, the more likely he is to make a just decision.
Only way a man can be harmed by another man is to let his reaction overpower him. (Similarly stated by Eleanor Roosevelt, 1800 years later)

13. Death in Meditations
Aurelius had no belief in an afterlife, which contributed greatly to his stoic thoughts.
Rationalized that since nothing lay beyond life, a life controlled by strong emotions was useless, and that man should be logical in thought.

14. Stoicism Today
The modern Stoic movement, which brings together atheists and theists, is one example of a new friendship and alliance between people for whom metaphysical disagreements are less important than friendship and spiritual practice. The New Atheism wars are over, and a new messy spirituality has emerged.